Paix des Braves

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Quebec and Cree agreement. For other uses, see Paix des Braves (disambiguation).

La Paix des Braves (French for "The Peace of the Braves") is an agreement between the Government of Quebec, Canada, and the Grand Council of the Crees. It was signed on February 7, 2002 in Waskaganish, Jamésie, Quebec, after decades of court battles between the Cree and the Government of Quebec. The name was inspired by the 1701 Great Peace of Montreal, also known as "La Paix des Braves".

[edit] Summary

Negotiated by sovereigntist Parti Québécois Premier of Quebec Bernard Landry and Grand Chief of the Crees Ted Moses, it was celebrated as a historical "nation to nation" declaration of peace and respect between the Cree people and the Quebec people. This 50-year agreement ensures the autonomy of the Cree people in the seven municipalities of James Bay, and the surrounding territory, all the while allowing the hydroelectric development of the Eastmain and Rupert Rivers by Hydro-Quebec, with benefits for the local population. In Quebec, "La Paix des Braves" is one of the most popular and consensual achievements of the Bernard Landry government.

Moses declared: "Quebec becomes a leader in the application of the principles recognized by the United Nations in regards of aboriginal development. Quebec will be able to show that the respect of aboriginals is compatible with her national interest. The federal government should inspire itself with this agreement in its negotiations with Natives across Canada." Matthew Coon Come, a former Grand Chief who had opposed the Quebec Government (notably on hydroelectric development) and the sovereigntist movement in the past, said: "This is the type of cooperation and financial engagement that the federal government should offer to other native nations"